Raipur: Chhattisgarh High Court has raised serious concerns over 1.45 lakh pending cases without closure reports even after police investigations were completed. The Court has asked the Director General of Police (DGP) to submit an updated status report explaining why these closure reports have not been filed before the competent courts. The directions came while hearing a petition related to the delay in filing a closure report after the investigation had already ended.
Details of Chhattisgarh 1.45 Lakh Pending Criminal Cases
The matter was heard by a Division Bench of Chief Justice Ramesh Sinha and Justice Ravindra Kumar Agrawal of the Chhattisgarh High Court. The Court was hearing a writ petition filed by Yogendra Babu Sharma. The petitioner requested the Court to direct the Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM), Raipur, to decide on a closure report submitted by the police and also decide his objections under Section 173(2) of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC).
Chhattisgarh 1.45 Lakh Pending Criminal Cases: Why Did The High Court Seek A Fresh Report
During the earlier hearing, the High Court had directed the Chhattisgarh DGP to provide statewide data on cases where:
- Police investigations had been completed.
- Closure reports had not been filed before the competent courts.
Following the Court’s order, the DGP submitted an affidavit containing updated figures across the state.
More Than 1.45 Lakh Cases Still Pending
According to the affidavit filed before the Court:
- As of 16 July 2026, there were 1,45,097 cases in which investigations had been completed but closure reports were still pending before courts.
- Earlier, on 20 May 2026, this number was 1,47,714.
- This means closure reports were filed in 2,617 cases during the period between the two reports.
Although the number has reduced, the High Court observed that the backlog is still very large.
Police Department Has Issued Directions
The affidavit also informed the Court that instructions have already been issued to:
- Police Commissioner, Raipur.
- Inspector General of Police of the concerned Range.
- District Superintendents of Police.
These officers have been directed to ensure that charge sheets or closure reports are submitted without unnecessary delay after investigations are completed. They have also been asked to continuously monitor compliance.
Chhattisgarh 1.45 Lakh Pending Criminal Cases: High Court Orders Fresh Affidavit
After reviewing the latest figures, the High Court directed the Director General of Police to submit another updated affidavit before the next hearing. The Court wants the latest status of all cases where investigations have been completed but closure reports are still waiting to be filed before the competent courts. The matter has been listed for further hearing on 18 August 2026.
Why Are Closure Reports Important
A closure report is a report submitted by the investigating police officer before the Magistrate when the investigation finds that:
- No offence is made out,
- There is not enough evidence,
- Or no accused can be prosecuted.
The Magistrate may accept the closure report, reject it, or order further investigation as permitted under law. Without filing the closure report, even a completed investigation cannot reach its legal conclusion, leading to unnecessary delays in the justice system.
What is the Importance of Chhattisgarh 1.45 Lakh Pending Criminal Cases Issue
A large number of completed investigations waiting for closure reports can:
- Increase the burden on courts.
- Delay justice for victims and accused persons.
- Keep criminal cases pending unnecessarily.
- Affect the overall efficiency of the criminal justice system.
The High Court’s monitoring aims to ensure that police complete the legal process promptly after finishing investigations.
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